USA > Iowa > Henry County > Portrait and biographical album of Henry County, Iowa, containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county > Part 74
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ITKIN BAXTER, a farmer residing on sec- tion 24, Canaan Township, Henry Co., Iowa, was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., Sept. 16, 1812. and is a son of Aitkin and Elizabeth (Wallace) Baxter. Jolin Baxter, the grandfather, was a native of Ireland, and came to this country prior to the Revolutionary War, in which he served as Sergeant. His eldest son, Rob- ert, was old enough to carry arms at that time, and relieved his father, who then went home on a fur- lough. His wife was supposed to be a Miss Gibbs, but the early history of her family is not known. She was the mother of four children-Robert, Gil- bert, Aitkin and Margaret. The parents died in Penn- sylvania at an advanced age. Robert married Miss Dillon, and after her death Jane Boyd became his wife; Gilbert and Margaret died unmarried, and Aitkin married Elizabeth Wallace, reared a family of eight children, and both he and his wife died and were buried in Pennsylvania. Aitkin Baxter, Sr., was a stonemason, but spent his last days on a farm.
Our subject is the only one of the children now living. His marriage was celebrated in Westmore- land County, Pa., Oet. 11, 1838, Miss Matilda Crawford becoming his wife. Their six eldest chil-
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dren were born there, three of whom died before the family came West. Those living are: Robert, who wedded Marietta Miltenberger, and resides in Albia, lowa; James, who married May A. Thomp- son, is a merchant of Mt. Union, and Elizabeth is the wife of William Martin, of Marion Township, llenry County.
In 1851 Mr. Baxter, with his young wife and family, embarked at Pittsburgh for the West, taking passage down the Ohio and up the Mississippi to Burlington, where they landed April 18 of the same year. Mr. Baxter came to the new country with some means and soon afterward entered sec- tion 24, Canaan Township, and there he has lived ever since. The first house crected was a log shanty, into which the family moved, they being the fourth family to settle in the township. Their first house stood almost upon the same site as the present residence. That house was destroyed by fire in March, 1887, but from the smoldering ruins an elegant cottage has arisen.
Only one child was born after Mr. and Mrs. Baxter came to Henry County, Joseph, who died in 1861. Robert and James were both soldiers, Robert in the Ist Iowa Cavalry and James in the Marine service. Robert was wounded by guerrillas in Missouri, and of his foraging party only himself and one other were left to tell the tale. Six balls passed through portions of his person, and he yet carries a minie ball in his body as a souvenir of the .war. Ile retired from service with the rank of Captain, and covered with the scars of honorable warfare.
For a number of months Mrs. Baxter has been an invalid, and is confined to her room. She has reached the age of seventy-six, has seen her chil- dren all married and well settled in life; her boys have returned from the war and become useful citi- zens, and her daughter a loving mother. Eight grandchildren are living and have nestled in her arms, and do her honor by the love they bear for one of the most devoted of grandmothers.
Our subject was one of the Judges at the first election in Canaan Township, which was held at the MeCabe farm. He was one of the first ap- pointed and also the first elected Trustee in the township, and later was County Supervisor for
five years. Long since past his prime, but yet in fair health, Mr. Baxter manages his farm and for years has been accounted one of the most indus- trious and honest neighbors in the community. IIe yet owns the southeast quarter of seetion 24, after giving half the section to his sons, and his daughter is to have the old home farm.
S AMUEL H. ROSS, a prominent and in- fluential citizen of Henry County, residing on section 27, Marion Township, was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., Nov. 25, 1799. His parents were Jolm and Mary (Cochrane) Ross, she being a niece of William Finley, associate of Gen. George Washington, and a brother-in-law of one of the members of the old Continental Con- gress. Her grandfather Cochrane was a Captain in the Light Horse Guards of Gen. Washington, he acting as Washington's body-guard for seven years afterward. Mr. and Mrs. Ross were the parents of eight children : Samuel II., of Mt. Pleasant; Sarah married John Magill, both now deceased; their son William is one of the prominent men of Pennsyl- vania, having served as Justice of the Peace in West Deer Township, Allegheny Co., Pa., and four terms in the State Legislature, being promi- nently spoken of for State Senator by the Repub- lican party. John died in Allegheny County. Pa. in 1885, leaving four sons and two daughters; he was an Elder in the United Presbyterian Church. Rhuma, wife of Thomas Cox, died in Cincinnati, Ohio; George W. was united in marriage with Miss Ester Irvin, and now resides in Allegheny County, Pa., on the old home farm; Eliza, deceased wife of Robert Cunningham, a resident of Allegheny County, Pa .; William died when a young man, and Mary A., the widow of Allen Aber, resides in Allegheny County.
Our subjeet remained under the parental roof un- til he was twenty-two years of age. The father being an invalid, the care of the family fell upon the mother and himself, while he was yet a boy. He worked at stone-cutting and various occupations in his native State. The father and mother both died in Allegheny County, Pa., and were devoted
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members of the United Presbyterian Church. Mr. Ross was a cousin of Gen. Ross, who was killed by the Americans at Baltimore. Samuel Ross wedded Miss Sarah Livingston, a daughter of James and Martha (Robertson) Livingston, both natives of Pennsylvania, and in that State, in Westmoreland County, May 19, 1803, their daughter Sarah was born.
Shortly after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Ross removed to Allegheny County, where he leased a farm for ten years. At the expiration of the time, he decided to try the far West, so in 1841 he with his wife and four children came to Henry County, Iowa, locating in Center Township, his post-office being Mt. Pleasant. Mr. and Mrs. Ross are the par- ents of six children : John P., residing in Baker City, Ore. ; James; Martha, now Mrs. Thomas Lash, of Mt. Pleasant; William E. owns a large ranch in Nevada; Sarah, wife of John Huling, a farmer of Center Township; and Sam, a resident of Oregon. Mr. Ross is one of the pioneer settlers of Henry County, has witnessed the many changes that have taken place, and has ever been identified with all public improvements. He and his estimable wife traveled life's journey together for nearly fifty- seven years, she being called to her final home Sept. 24, 1887. They were both members of the United Presbyterian Church, doing their part in all church work. As a pioneer, citizen and friend, none more truly deserve the respect and love of all than does Samuel II. Ross. Politically, he is a Republican, having voted with that party since its organization.
D. W. C. THROOP, deceased, was for many years the senior editor of the Mt. Pleasant Free Press, owned by his nephew, James A. Throop, who had from boyhood been to him as a son, and whom he had followed to Iowa from his home in the State of New York. He was born in Hamilton, Madison Co., N. Y., Nov. 27, 1819, and was the youngest of a family of seven children, all of whom had preceded him to the farther shore. In early life he was designed by his friends for the ministry, for which his devout and reverent nature seemed especially to fit him. His
own inclinations, however, led him to the study of the law, in which he spent three years. Too great an absorption in the studies which he loved im- paired his health, and a long and dangerous illness resulted, compelling him to relinquish his cherished design, and seek a more active career for his life work, which he accordingly did.
May 4, 1847, he was married in his native town to Lydia A. Whipple, also of that place. The young couple began their domestic life in Preston, Che- nango Co., N. Y., where they lived until about twenty years later, when they removed to Mt. Pleas- ant, Iowa. Their union was blessed by the births of three children, one danghter and two sons, namely : Eliza C., who became the wife of M. J. Blanding, and died in Henry County, in 1877, leaving two children, who were taken to rear by their grand- parents, and on whom Mr. Throop lavished the love he had felt for his only daughter, whose death was to him the greatest sorrow of his life. The sons are : George E., a well-known resident of Mt. Pleasant, and Deputy Postmaster; and James H., who carried out the early ambition of his father, and is now a successful attorney at Norwich, N. Y., the town where his father had begun his studies, and of which James H. Throop has recently been elected as Mayor. Besides his own children, our subject had reared his nephew, James A. Throop, proprietor of the Mt. Pleasant Free Press, and had regarded him as one of his own, an affection fully reciprocated by its recipient. The latter settled in Mt. Pleasant in December, 1856, and in March, 1 868, onr subject decided to make that place his home, also, having likewise a sister and other relatives living there. On his arrival in Mt. Pleasant he engaged in the hardware business with his nephew, the connection continuing until the latter became, in the summer of 1872, one of the proprietors of the Mt. Pleasant Free Press. He then became a regular contributor to the paper, a labor he loved, and on the retirement of the regular editor, Mr. Edwin Van Cise, he assumed the duties of editor- in-chief, a position he filled until the moment of his death, the proprietor giving his attention to its man- agement. He was a ready and fluent writer, and his editorial work on the Free Press marked him as a man of no ordinary ability.
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In politics Mr. Throop was in early life an ardent Whig, but on the formation of the Republican party, was equally enthusiastic in its support. Especially was he an admirer of Horace Greeley, who was his ideal Statesman, and when the latter was nominated for the Presidency in 1872, he followed him into the ranks of the Democratic party, with which he afterward continued to act. He was also an ardent advocate of the cause of prohibition, and in his New York home was especially active in its sup- port.
The death of Mr. Throop was sudden. lle died as he had often expressed a wish to do, "with the harness on." On Saturday, March 10, 1888, he was cheerfully conversing with an old friend and former associate, Mr. Edwin Van Cise, in the Free Press office, when he was seen to put his hand to his head and fall forward. Loving arms caught him and laid him gently down, and in a few moments the spirit of the just man winged its way to Ilim who gave it.
Mr. Throop was a man of rare purity of life, of deep religious feeling, honest in word and deed, of a cheerful, kindly disposition, beloved by all who knew him well, and his death was mourned by an unusually large circle of friends to whom his lov- able traits of character had greatly endeared him.
ON. JAMES HARLAN is the best known of all the citizens of Henry County. He is a native of Clarke County, Ill., born Ang. 26. 1820, and is the son of Silas and Mary (Conley) Harlan. On the father's side the family are of English descent, who in an early day settled in South Carolina, moving from thence to Pennsyl- vania. The maternal grandfather of our subject was a soldier in the Revolutionary War.
Silas Harlan moved with his family to Parke County, Ind., when James was but three years old, and there the son was reared on a farm. Hle re- ceived his education in Asbury University, at Greencastle, Ind., then under the Presidency of the late Bishop Simpson, graduating in 1845. On receiving his diploma he came to Iowa, locating in Iowa City, where he took a professorship in the col-
lege at that place. In 1846 he was elected Superin- tendent of Public Schools, being the only candidate of his party elected. After serving one year, the election was declared void, and going before the people, he was re-elected, but on account of some informalities in the ballots, the office was given to his opponent, a portion of the tickets being printed Harland and Harlin, instead of Harlan.
In 1848 Mr. Harlan was admitted to the bar, and practiced law at Iowa City until 1853, when he was elected the first President of the Iowa Wes- leyan University, and removed to Mt. Pleasant, where he has since continued to reside. Under his administration the university was financially a suc- cess. In 1855 he was elected United States Sena- tor for the term of six years, and took his seat in March following, and served till the end of that session. On re-assembling in the winter of 1856- 57, the Senate declared his seat vacant, the majority asserting that he was not regularly elected by the Iowa Legislature. Returning home, the Legisla- ture being in session he was again elected, returned, and served out his term. In 1861 he was re-elected for another term, but resigned in May. 1865, to assume the office of Secretary of the Interior, which office he filled with signal ability till September, 1866, being onee more elected United States Sena- tor from his State, serving from March, 1867, till March, 1873. During his service in the United States Senate, Mr. Harlan was an industrious and influential member, serving on some of the most important committees, being chairman of several, among others those of public lands and Indian affairs.
Leaving the Senate March I. 1873, Mr. Harlan lived a retired life until the summer of 1882, when he was appointed a Judge in the Court of Claims in the celebrated Alabama case, and on the death of Presiding Judge Wells, was appointed by Presi- dent Arthur as Presiding Judge of the same court, in which capacity he served until June 1, 1885, when the business of the court was concluded, since which time he has remained in private life in Mt. Pleasant.
Mr. Harlan was united in marriage with Miss Ann Eliza Peck, in October, 1845. Four children were born to them, two of whom died in early child-
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hood, and one son, William A., at the age of twenty- three years; one is living, Mary E., wife of Robert T. Lincoln, of Chicago. Mrs. Ilarlan died at Old Point Comfort, Va., Sept. 4, 1884, and was interred in the Forest Home Cemetery, at Mt. Pleasant. She was a woman greatly loved by all who knew her, and her memory will ever be cherished by her many friends.
R EV. WILLIAM E. DEGARMO, residing on section 19, Marion Township, is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Washington County, Feb. 27, 1818, and is a son of William and Mary (McDonald) DeGarmo, the former a native of New Jersey, and the latter of Pennsylvania. His grandfather, Paul DeGarmo, was a native of Long Island, N. Y.
The early life of our subject was spent in his native State, assisting in the farm work when old enough, and attending the common schools when the opportunity was afforded him. When four- teen years of age he accompanied his parents to Virginia, the family locating on a farm near Wheeling, now in West Virginia, Here he re- mained until 1846, engaged in farming with his father the greater part of the time. After his removal to Virginia, he had the privilege of at- tending school but four months. This, with what little he was taught in the schools of his native State, completed his education so far as obtained by study in school. But he was not one to be con- tented with such a limited education, and by much reading and study in after years, has become a well-informed man.
On leaving his father's house, Mr. DeGarmo went to Clinton County, Ohio, where he remained eight years, engaged in teaching much of the time, a profession in which he had some experience be- fore leaving Virginia. While here he was licensed to preach the Gospel, and was ordained a Deacon in the Methodist Protestant Church in the district of Ohio. In 1854 he came to Iowa, locating in Keokuk County. In the fall of 1855 he united with the Iowa Conference of the Methodist Protest- ant Church, and traveled the circuit in Davis
County for one year. During the succeeding year he taught school in Davis County, where he became acquainted with and married Miss Susan Heidle- baugh, a native of Lancaster County, Ohio, the ceremony being performed April 30, 1857. Mrs. DeGarmo came to Iowa in 1851 with her parents, who located in Davis County. Five children have been born unto them : one, Ray P., dying in infancy ; four are yet living: Sarah Bell married John Booten, and lives in Jackson Township, Henry County ; Allie May married George W. Zellar, and is living in Jasper County, Iowa; Ed married Miss Beatrice Daniels, and lives in Trenton Township, on the old homestead; Della lives at home with her parents.
In the fall of 1857 Mr. DeGarmo took his young wife to Mt. Pleasant, where they resided one year, he being engaged in preaching. They then moved to Trenton Township, Henry County, and in the neighborhood where they first settled, known as the Richwood neighborhood, have since continued to reside, and during all this time Mr. DeGarmo has been engaged principally in teaching, and preaching the Gospel as lie finds opportunity. In 1859 he was ordained an Eller in the Methodist Protestant Church. For twenty years he has been engaged a part of his time in burning lime. Three times has he been elected Justice of the Peace, but qualified but once.
Mr. DeGarmo is essentially a self-educated and self-made man. As a husband and father he is kind and affectionate; as a minister of the Gospel, he endeavors faithfully to serve his Master ; as a citizen he is esteemed by all.
P AUL F. STRAUB, M. D., Third Assist- ant Physician at the Iowa State Hospital for the Insane, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, was born in the celebrated Black Forest of Ger- many, near Baden, July 3, 1865. Ilis parents, Edward and Addrienna ( Rappenecker) Straub, were natives of that country, and emigrated from Germany to America in 1872, with their family, and came directly to Mt. Pleasant, where they now reside. Paul, the subject of our sketch, received
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his primary education in the public schools of Mt. Pleasant, and spent one and a half years as a stu- dent of the Iowa Wesleyan University. He then took a regular course at the medical department of the Iowa State University, and graduated in the class of 1885. Ile was then employed at the Kan- sas State Insane Asylum, at Topeka, several months, and in May, 1886, was appointed to his present position. Ile is a member of Mt. Pleasant Lodge No. 1, A. F. & A. M., of Henry Chapter No. 8, R. A. M., and of Jerusalem Commandery No. 20, all of Mt. Pleasant.
Dr. Straub is a promising young physician, who has but entered upon his career in the honorable profession of medicine.
W ILLIAM F. JONES, Postmaster and far- mer. Perhaps in the boundaries of Jack- son Township there resides no man of a wider acquaintance in Henry County, either in a business or a social sense, than the subject of this sketch. Everyone, from the youngest to the old- est settler, knows him, and a more genial couple than Mr. Jones and wife would be hard to find. He is a son of George and Lydia (McMurtry) Jones, and was born in Morgan County, Ill., June 17, 1832. His parents soon after his birth moved to Knox County, Ill., remaining until April 1, 1838, when they emigrated westward and found a location in this county. Mr. Jones entered 2493 acres of land on sections 25 and 26, in Jackson Township. On part of this traet stood a cabin built by Elijah Bunting, his elaim being purchased by Mr. Jones. George Jones originally came from Virginia, and was born March 21, 1785, in Roanoke County, and was the son of James and Catherine (Howe) Jones. Hle was a soldier under Gen. Harrison during the Indian War, and from him his son inherited his loyal sentiments as well as his patriotism, for later events prove him to have been a brave soldier. George Jones was married in Harrison County, Ind., to Lydia MeMurtry, Feb. 17, 1817. She was born in Mercer County, Ky., Dec. 7, 1795, her parents being James and Elizabeth (Rose) McMurtry, of Irish ancestry. Her grandfather lived in Kentucky,
and was engaged in the Indian wars in that State, and was killed by the Indians. Her father was also a soldier, and from his boyhood was an Indian fighter. There were eight children in the Jones family, two of whom, Nancy and Sarah, died in Indiana. The others are: Elizabeth, who was wedded to Walter King, and died in Chehalis County, Wash. Ter .; Isaae H., who married Mary A. Garrison, died in Boone County. Iowa; Silas M is the husband of Hester J. Garrison; James M., who remained a bachelor until last February, when he was wedded in Washington Territory ; Catherine, the youngest member of the family, is wife of Will- iam L. Davolt, and William F., our subject, completes the list. The father died in 1850, and his wife sur- vived him thirty-two years, being in her eighty- seventh year when her death occurred.
Our subject was a lad six years of age when his parents became residents of this county. and from his boyhood William F. Jones has been identified with everything that was of interest to his county or her people. He was educated in the public schools of that early day, and later taught school in what is now known as Bethany District, in Baltimore Township. He learned farm work in detail, and before old enough to hokl the plow drove the oxen while one with more muscle held the handles. Ile jokingly remarks that he lived with his mother until he was married, when she lived the remainder of her days with him. Ile was three years a soldier in the Union army, a member of Company B, 3d lowa Cavalry, and was in every engagement partic- ipated in by the right wing of his regiment to which he was attached, except one, during his entire term of service. He draws a pension for disability incurred in the service.
Mr. Jones takes great pride, and justly so, in the patriotism of his mother as manifested during this dark period. When the war broke out he and she lived alone, no other son being west of the Rocky Mountains. He expressed himself to her that he did not wish to outlive his country, and that he felt that he must enlist in the army. She unhesitatingly said "go," for she could take care of herself. He did go, and served faithfully, and lived to return to the mother who was so willing to give him as a sacrifice for the country she so loved.
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At the expiration of his term of enlistment, Mr. Jones returned to Henry County, and Nov. 4, 1864, was elected County Supervisor. He was subse- quently elected Justice and served eleven years. He has also served as Township Clerk, Township Trustce for several terms, and in fact, it might be truthfully said that if William F. Jones would make any effort to secure it, the best office within the gift of the people in this county awaits him. Asa writer and speaker Mr. Jones has no superior among the people, professional or scientific, in this county, and his letters to the press upon the beneficial results of a protective tariff have been pronounced masterly by the best reasoners and thinkers of the county. Brilliant in intellect, with a depth of thought en- hanced by constant study, Mr. Jones has made him- self felt in social and political circles for years, and the future promises much for him. His marriage to Miss Dortha Dowell was celebrated Nov. 17, 1864. She is a native of Miami County, Ohio, born Jan. 1, 1834, a daughter of Martin and Mary (Hall) Dowell. Martin Dowell was born in North Caro- lina, his wife in Charleston, S. C., and they were married in Dayton, Ohio. They were the parents of ten children, of whom eight came to Iowa: John, the second son, died at Allatoona, Ga., dur- ing the war. The Dowell family came to this county in 1857, and the parents of Mrs. Jones are both buried in the Pilot Grove Cemetery. Mrs. Jones is the only one of the children now a resi- dent of this county, but the names and respective locations of the others are as follows : Ellison married Mary Richardson, and resides in Butler County. Neb .; Sarah J. wedded J. H. Cowgill, of Henry County, and is now a resident of Saline County, Neb .; John died unmarried; Dortha is the wife of our subject; William wedded Mattie Grant, and resides in Brainard, Neb .; Nancy, unmarried, is a resident of Valparaiso, Neb., and Joanna is the wife of Marquis Grant, a resident of Saunders County, Neb. Mr. Jones and his wife are the parents of six children : Mary A., wife of George Wanser, of Brainard, Neb., was educated at Howe's Academy, and was a teacher in this county prior to her mar- riage; Dovie was educated at the same academy, and is now a teacher in this county ; Nora is also a graduate of the same school and is a resident
teacher of Tobias, Saline Co., Neb. ; Mattie C. will also complete her education at llowe's Academy, and intends teaching. John D. and Sarah J., the younger members of the family, possess the same brightness of intellect and are intended by their parents to have a complete education.
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